By Amanda Sangster - September 12, 2023
In the heart of Moffitt Cancer Center’s facilities, amid the beeping monitors and hurried footsteps, there’s a dedicated team that often operates outside the spotlight yet plays a pivotal role in the safety and care of patients. For them, it’s not just about maintaining cleanliness; it’s about being an integral part of each patient’s journey with cancer, providing comfort and support when it’s needed the most.
Moffitt’s Environmental Services team members tirelessly work behind the scenes to ensure the cancer center remains a clean, safe and healing place for all. From providing meticulous sanitization to maintaining the pristine beauty of our clinics and buildings, these team members are dedicated to making Moffitt a world-class facility. Here we recognize just a handful of our team during Environmental Services Week.
Meet the Environmental Services Team
Name: Jonathan Fernandez
Title: Environmental Services Lead
Where do you work: Evening shift at Vincent A. Stabile Research Building
How long with Moffitt: 6 years
Best part of your job: Making Moffitt a better place for those who need cancer treatment
Favorite part of EVS: Everyone is respectful and professional, and I appreciate my supervisor helping grow my career in EVS.
Name: Ivron Jean-Francois
Title: Environmental Services Floor Tech II
Where do you work: Operating rooms at Moffitt McKinley Hospital
How long with Moffitt: 8 years
Best part of your job: Taking pride in making my floor look perfect
Favorite part of EVS: Since I’ve been here, I feel like I have a second family, where everyone loves each other.
Name: Mildrei Castellanos Diaz
Title: Environmental Services Supervisor
Where do you work: Inpatient rooms at Moffitt McKinley Hospital
How long with Moffitt: 7 years
Best part of your job: Serving and being useful to someone in need. Our work impacts another person’s life in a positive way on a daily basis.
Favorite part of EVS: I started my Moffitt journey in EVS as a temporary job. Over time, I began to learn the function of our department and came to understand that it isn’t simply cleaning, dusting, sweeping and mopping — it’s so much more than that! I understand the importance and necessity of our department in a hospital or any medical facility. I fell in love with my job since I was a part of the process involved in giving our patients the best quality of life. I feel so grateful to be part of a team that, to many, are unseen; but to me, contributed to the comfort and safety of our patients by eliminating risks of contamination. EVS is responsible for more than just maintaining a clean and disinfected environment. Learning this prompted me to ask myself: “Are we essential?” My answer is now a definitive yes!
Name: Yessy Sorto
Title: Environmental Services Tech II
Where do you work: Post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), operating rooms at McKinley Campus
How long with Moffitt: 15 years
Best part of your job: I like interacting with patients while cleaning. It’s nice to leave the areas and see the results of my hard work.
Favorite part of EVS: I feel good around and with my coworkers, team members and supervisors.
Name: Brian Mclaren
Title: Hazardous Waste Tech I
Where do you work: 2nd shift operating room at Moffitt McKinley Hospital
How long with Moffitt: 6 months
Best part of your job: The best part of my job is interacting with people from all walks of life and the different departments.
Favorite part of EVS: I love working in EVS because it seems I’m learning something new every day. I have the opportunity to rise and grow. EVS does a little bit of everything.
Name: Jacob Jensen
Title: Environmental Services Team Lead
Where do you work: Day shift at Moffitt McKinley Hospital
How long with Moffitt: 7 months
Best part of your job: Every day is a different day that presents different challenges. With new challenges, I’ve had the opportunity to develop my problem-solving and organizational skills.
Favorite part of EVS: I love what I do every day! I’m part of something bigger than myself. This department works actively behind the scenes serving the patients and team members by making sure that the hospital is clean and safe. While working in this department, I’ve had so many opportunities to talk with patients, hear their stories and see firsthand how important and appreciated we are by them.
Name: Jesus Castellanos Molinet
Title: Environmental Services Tech I
Where do you work: Sterile Processing Department (SPD) at Moffitt McKinley Hospital
How long with Moffitt: 6 months
Best part of your job: After I learned to clean SPD, I now know how important the area is where I work and do my job every day. I have that feeling that I help someone fighting cancer every day.
Favorite part of EVS: I’ve learned many things in the areas assigned to me. I enjoy knowing that I can learn more every day and become an expert in what I do. Also, I’m very shy but I like to make people laugh!
Name: Zorica Ljuna
Title: Environmental Services Tech II
Where do you work: MIOMS Cell Therapy
How long with Moffitt: 7 years
Best part of your job: Being a part of the patient experience and cure for cancer
Favorite part of EVS: My favorite aspect of my current job is the variety of work I love that every day presents me with different challenges. I have opportunity to learn about the cell therapy processes. I also love that everyone treats each other with respect.
Name: Carlos Irizarry
Title: Environmental Services Team Lead
Where do you work: Magnolia and any area where I’m needed
How long with Moffitt: 11 years
Best part of your job: There are so many good parts including the respect. I love that I’m called upon all areas of the hospital for help.
Favorite part of EVS: I’m treated well. I enjoy my job, coworkers and the quality of the hospital. I love my work and I’m very proud that I’m able to provide a safe, clean environment for patients, their families and team members.
Name: Jean R. Jacques
Title: Hazardous Waste Tech
Where do you work: 2nd shift Operating Room
How long with Moffitt: 5 years
Best part of your job: Working in the pharmacy because I help keep it safe and clean for patients
Favorite part of EVS: When I first came to this country, I used to work as a grounds keeper cutting grass, but my life has been changed for good since I’ve been working at Moffitt.
Name: Jovanna Boissen Hernandez
Title: Environmental Services Tech II
Where do you work: Moffitt Research Center at Magnolia Campus, PEARL Lab
How long with Moffitt: 9 years
Best part of your job: Trying to keep the areas in good cleanliness while helping my coworkers
Favorite part of EVS: I like working at Moffitt because they have always treated me with respect and I feel valued.
Name: Tony Sanders
Title: Director of Environmental Services
Where do you work: Magnolia Campus, everywhere, all the time
How long with Moffitt: 17 years
Best part of your job: The people, the people, the people! When it comes to EVS, all the chemicals, tools, etc., in the world won’t do the job by themselves. Even our UV robots need operators and that is left to our great staff!
Favorite part of EVS: The diversity of the staff and the innovative ways they come up with ideas on how we achieve success!
Name: Carmen Roman
Title: Environmental Services Tech II
Where do you work: Magnolia Campus
How long with Moffitt: 17 years
Best part of your job: The satisfaction of doing something for our patients
Favorite part of EVS: I like working at EVS because I can positively contribute my experience and knowledge to my colleagues and patients.
